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Newsleader St. Joseph
Friday, Dec. 14, 2012 Volume 23, Issue 49 Est. 1989
Annual tree-lighting event draws families
Town Crier
by TaLeiza Calloway news@thenewsleaders.com
St. Joseph Winter Farmers’ Market starts at 3 p.m. today
The third annual tree-lighting and caroling event in St. Joseph was a hit this year with more community collaboration to help ignite the holiday spirit. Sponsored by the St. Joseph Action Group, the tradition included appearances by Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and a Living Christmas Tree. Hundreds came out to support the event, organizers said. “It seems to grow every year,” said Thomasette Scheeler, OSB, one of the event organizers. “There were more families with children this year. We had a good turnout.” The Christmas tree, close to 18-feet tall, was donated by St. Joseph dentist, Joseph Styles. It stands at the corner of Minnesota Street and College Avenue. As the tree was lit, many participants joined in singing carols. There were performances by students from Kennedy Community School, the Schola from St. Tree • page 5
The St. Joseph Winter Farmers’ Market will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. today, Dec. 14 in the fellowship hall of Resurrection Lutheran Church, St. Joseph. Angela Ringsmuth and Emmett Doyle will perform holiday music including vocals, guitar, piano and accordion. Many vendors will be present with locally produced goods that make great gifts, including holiday gift baskets, garden produce from storage, artisan breads, cookies, fudge, lefse, meats (chicken, lamb, beef, pork), goat cheese, sunflower oil, herbal teas, honey, handmade soaps and much more. Homemade soup will be offered by the church youth group as a fundraiser.
St. Joseph Park Board asks input Monday
The St. Joseph Park Board will receive public input on the proposed improvements to Cloverdale Park during its next meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 17 in the City Hall Council Chambers. Public input is scheduled for a half hour of the agenda. For more information, call John Anderson at 363-7983 or email at johnand1951@charter.net.
Everyone’s a member in December
At the Minnesota Street Market, everyone is a member in December. Enjoy member discounts, PLUS spend $50, receive a gift certificate for $10 to the Market; spend $100, receive a gift certificate for $25. Use our handy online shopping form for holiday shopping. Gift sets available. Eat good food from the Market! Hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Downtown St. Joseph.
Postal Patron
contributed photo
The Benedictine Sisters Schola Choir performs during the third annual tree lighting event Dec. 7 in downtown St. Joseph. A light dusting of snow helped to make the evening more festive.
Snowfall sets record for Dec. 9 date by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
St. Joseph residents woke up Sunday to a record snowfall – more than 11 inches. The snow fell steadily
through the night, starting at about midnight, and continued to fall throughout most of Sunday. Travel was virtually suspended in the wee hours of Sunday and during the day. Tempera-
INSERT:
Culligan
most would-be motorists wisely decided not to drive anywhere. The snowfall was an all-time record for that date, Dec. 9, in the greater St. Cloud area, according to St. Cloud State UniSnowfall • page 5
When it comes to lefse, Birr just can’t say ‘no’ by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
GriefShare starts Jan. 2
Hope Covenant Church will offer “GriefShare,” a 13-week support group to help those who have suffered the death of a loved one. The session will begin Wednesday, Jan. 2 and meet every Wednesday night from 6:15-8 p.m. at the church at 336 4th Ave. S. in St. Cloud. To register, call 257-4673. More information can be found at GriefShare.org.
tures plunged, winds increased, making visibility a problem for motorists. There were reports of some accidents and vehicles in ditches, but there were no serious injuries or deaths in the area. Thanks to early warnings,
photo by Dennis Dalman
Tracey Birr of St. Joseph (left) discusses the fine points of lefsemaking with customer Marie Popp of Rice during the debut of the Winter Farmers’ Market in Sartell. The event, which attracted hundreds of people, took place in the council chambers of Sartell City Hall.
Tracey Birr is a woman who just can’t say “no.” Not when it comes to lefse, that is. “Do you have any lefse, Tracey?” “When are you going to make another batch of lefse?” “I’ve just got to have some lefse, Tracey. Can you make me some?” It never fails. Birr always says “yes, yes” and “yes again.” Birr’s friendly smiling face and her lefse packages are familiar sights at the St. Joseph Farmers’ Market, summer and winter. “They keep asking for it, and I keep making it for them,” Birr said. “The demand is there, and I just can’t say no.” What started as a cooking
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challenge for the St. Joseph woman has developed into a virtual part-time job. A few years ago, she tried to make one of her childhood favorites, the Scandinavian soft flatbread called lefse. Her efforts were not exactly something to write home about. Some co-workers came to the rescue. For the past 19 years, Birr has been office manager for the telecommunications department, jointly for the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University. One day, she and some of her colleagues held a kind of cook-in, making lefse, and it wasn’t long before Birr finally got the knack. She credits coworker Pam Reding for guiding her first attempts into successes. That was two years ago. Since then, Birr and one of Lefse • page 4
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Y2K Lions announce peace poster winners The students shown here recently participated in the St. Joseph Y2K Lions Peace Poster Contest. Lions Clubs International sponsors the contest to stress the importance of peace, tolerance and international understanding. The contest encourages young people, ages 11-13, to think about peace, to creatively express what it means to them and to share their own unique visions with the world. All first-place winners’ posters were selected for originality, artistic merit and
portrayal of the contest theme, “Imagine Peace,” and were forwarded to district competition. District winners advance to the multiple district and international rounds of competition. One grand price winner and 23 merit award winners will be selected. The grand prize includes a $5,000 award plus a trip for the winner and two family members to the awards ceremony at Lions Day with the United Nations. The 23 merit award winners each receive a certificate and a $500 award.
St. John’s Prep School contest winners are (left to right) Hannah Weldon, first place; Elizabeth Kolb, third place; and Annie Ellis, second place.
Brighten someone else’s holidays by donating to Salvation Army by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
There are plenty of ways to make someone else’s Christmas brighter through the local Salvation Army – ringing the bells, giving toys or donating to the food shelf. contributed photos
All Saints Academy winners are (left to right) Caitlin Skahen, second place; Carson Huls, first place; and Reid Nydeen, third place.
Kennedy Community Elementary School winners are (left to right) Megan Dirksen, third place; Ruby Geng, second place; and Olivia Skudlarek, first place. Skudlarek’s poster.
L E A F r e c e i v e s M o r g a n Fa m i l y Fo u n d a t i o n g r a n t The District 742 Local Education and Activities Foundation has received a Morgan Family Foundation grant of $27,914 in support of the PAKRAT student literacy and parent-involvement program. The grant will allow the PAKRAT program to be expanded into the preschool level and also to purchase books to expand the PAKRAT libraries at the District’s K-3 schools and to purchase replacement books for
those programs. This is exciting news for area school children and LEAF is honored to be involved in gathering support for the PAKRAT program. We are grateful to the Morgan Family Foundation for this significant contribution to a growing program. The Morgan Family Foundation was set up by Lee and Vicki Morgan, former owners of the Antioch Co. (Creative Memories here in St.
Friday, Dec. 14, 2012
Cloud). Last year LEAF received a $20,000 grant from the Bernick’s Family Foundation which allowed the PAKRAT program to expand to all K-3 classrooms in District 742. About LEAF The District 742 Local Education and Activities Foundation was founded in 1993 as a fully independent, non-profit organi-
zation for the purpose of promoting and enhancing schoolbased, extra-curricular activities and academic opportunities in District 742 Public Schools. LEAF’s endowment fund provides supplemental funding for academic, activities, arts and athletic programming in the district’s schools. Since 1996, LEAF has been able to contribute nearly $795,000 to projects in District 742.
Bell ringers Salvation Army bell ringers are still needed to help collect money in the iconic red kettles. The goal this year is to raise $220,000. To volunteer as a bell-ringer, call Brenda at 252-4552. Toys Toys will be accepted by the Salvation Army through Friday, Dec. 14. They will be distributed at the St. Cloud Armory Dec. 20-21. Toys can be delivered to the Salvation Army from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Parents or guardians who need toys for their children should sign up at the Salvation Army or call 252-4552. Food shelf Actual food items are always welcome at the Salvation Army Food Shelf, but even better are cash/check donations. Written to ”Food Shelf Charity Challenge,” checks may be mailed to Salvation Army, 400 Hwy. 10 S., St. Cloud, MN 56304 or donate online at www.salvationarmynorth.org/stcloud. For the entire story, please visit www.thenewsleaders. com.
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Friday, Dec. 14, 2012
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
City approves final budget, tax levy by TaLeiza Calloway news@thenewsleaders.com
St. Joseph City Council members approved the city’s final budget and property-tax levy for the coming year. The 2013 budget is about about $2.4 million, an increase of about 7 percent from this year. The 2012 budget was about $2.25 million. The increase stems from the city reinstating previous reductions. Examples include the addition of a three-fourths time staff person versus a half-time staff person and the addition of a full-time police officer who will begin halfway through the year. Some capital funding was also added in for street-maintenance projects, such as sealcoating and crack-filling. City officials approved a final tax levy of about $1.77 million, an increase of about 6.75
percent from this year’s levy. The 2012 levy was about $1.66 million, a decrease of about 7 percent from 2011. The levy increase was necessary to cover the general-fund budget increase, Finance Director Lori Bartlett said previously. During the budget discussion, council member Steve Frank asked the council to reconsider the city’s membership in the St. Cloud Regional Human Rights Commission. Though Frank initially voted in favor of the city’s ending its membership, he thought it should be revisited. Richard Cousin, human rights enforcement officer for the St. Cloud regional office, and St. Cloud City Administrator Mike Williams attended the meeting to encourage officials to rethink their decision and provide additional information. Members of the St. Cloud Hu-
man Rights Commission also attended. St. Joseph resident Sam Johnson read a statement on behalf of his wife, Anne Buckvold, who was unable to attend. Buckvold supports the city’s participation on the human rights commission. “I believe the St. Cloud Human Rights Office helps to build and protect an important cornerstone of our healthy community,” Buckvold wrote in her statement. “This is precisely why St. Joseph should continue its funding.” The city council voted 3-2 against reconsideration of the membership. Frank and council member Renee Symanietz were in the minority. St. Joseph had 17 inquiries last year and one complaint. Other than St. Cloud, St. Joseph was the only area city that previously voted to join the commission.
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Utility fee increases move forward by TaLeiza Calloway news@thenewsleaders.com
Residents will see a hike in water and sewer rates next year. Members of the St. Joseph City Council voted 5-0 to approve the increase that will help offset the debt in the city’s water-and-sewer funds, city officials said. The debts are general-obligation debts backed by taxpayers. The effect of the proposed rate increase on an average single-family unit is $6.85, about a 10-percent increase on a monthly bill. Water-line charges will go from $12.50 per unit per bimonth to $18. The charge for water usage will see an increase of 20 cents, bringing it to
$3.20 per 1,000 gallons. Sewerutility rates will go from $2.65 to $2.80 per 1,000 gallons. Even with the rate increase, the city still falls in the middle of the pack for utility-bill charges in the area, St. Joseph Finance Director Lori Bartlett said previously. The council also voted to implement a street-light utility fee. The vote was 4-1 with council member Dale Wick voting against the move. Specifically, city officials agreed to remove $42,500 from the city’s property-tax levy for the change. Street lighting is included in the city’s property-tax levy. By pulling the street lighting expense from the levy, instead of residents and businesses pay-
ing taxes to the county for street lighting, they will pay the city directly every two months, St. Joseph City Administrator Judy Weyrens said. St. Joseph Mayor Rick Schultz, an advocate for the streetRecycle light utility, reminded council your old members the proposal was not compute r/l an attempt to generate revenue. for FRE aptop B l ake Th E! “The goal is to distribute Repair oennes lighting fees across the comSpecia list munity,” he said. Blake Thoennes A public hearing is required Repair Specialist to implement the fee change. Until t he end of July That hearing is expected to oc, 2012 www.co cur early next year. The fee will mputer r epairun be implemented in the first few limited .com • months of the new year, WeyBlake@ compu rens said. The first billing to terrepa irunlim reflect the change is expected ited.co m in March.
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Friday, Dec. 14, 2012
Funds established for Decker family Several funds have been established for the benefit of the family of the Cold SpringRichmond police officer shot to death Nov. 29 in an apparent ambush. Thomas Decker, 31, died after being shot twice while making a call to check on a report of a man who might be suicidal. The incident happened in a parking lotalleyway behind a building
in downtown Cold Spring. The man the officer came to check on lived in an apartment above Winner’s Bar in that building. That man was arrested but was later released for lack of evidence. An intensive investigation continues. Decker is the father of four children from a previous marriage. He and Becky Decker’s children are Kelly, 8; Jade, 7; Justin, 6; and Devon, 5.
Decker and wife Alicia were married scarcely a year before his murder. People may contribute to one or more of the following funds: Tom Decker Memorial Fund, First National Bank of Cold Spring, P.O. Box 416, Cold Spring, Minn. 56320. Tom Decker Memorial Fund, State Bank of Cold Spring, P.O. Box 415, Cold Spring, Minn.
Lefse
not worthy of its name. And, like tortillas, lefse is so versatile because it can become a “wrapper” for virtually any kind of filling: butter and cinnamon, jams or jellies (lingonberry jam is a favorite in Norway), cheeses (especially goat cheese), peanut butter, ham and scrambled eggs, beef slices and mustard, sugar and corn syrup and even (hold your nose!) lutefisk, the traditional pungent-smelling, lyesoaked, jelly-textured cod that is a national holiday obsession with some brave Scandinavians and Scandinavian-Americans alike. Tracey and Cassandra make 200 to 250 lefse just about every week, and they all sell faster than hotcakes. Tracey’s co-workers practically clamor for them. She gets calls from people longing for lefse, and her wares are always hot sellers at farmers’ markets. Last Saturday, Birr attended the opening of the Sartell Winter Farmers’ Market, and she was surprised by how many people bought her lefse. Many people have never heard of lefse and have no clue what it is, Birr said, but the treat is quickly catching on, even among the die-hard German descendents in central Minnesota. Birr’s husband, Jim, is as German as they come, and he is now a lefse fan. But he is perpetually astonished at what a fuss so many fans make out of what amounts to a plain old thin potato pancake. “I guess you’ve got to have a little bit of Scandinavian blood to fully appreciate lefse,” Tracey said. “My husband just cannot understand how people get so enthusiastic about it. His Ger-
man family was in the dark about lefse all their lives.” She made a lefse convert of her husband in short order. It’s a good thing he married this cute little Scandinavian lefse-maker,” she added, laughing. Unlike her German hubby, Tracey is as Scandinavian as they come. With a maiden name like Anderson, go figure. In fact, she is both Norwegian AND Swedish. She was born in New Ulm and grew up on a farm at the edge of the heavily Scandinavian town of Hanska, near New Ulm. “Lefse, for us Scandinavians, was a year-round treat, not just a holiday specialty,” Birr said. “My father’s second wife, Deanna, is a fabulous cook. She makes lefse, and it’s just fabulous. Grandma Anderson always made it when I was growing up, and it was so good.” Birr’s father, Willard, and Deanna, who now live in Arkansas, were elated to learn Birr had mastered the art of lefse-making. They assured her “Grandma Anderson is now smiling down on you from heaven every time you and Cassandra make lefse.” Lefse, Birr said, is a perfect example of a traditional comfort food that gets passed down from generation to generation. That is one reason she was determined to learn lefse-making – to keep a family tradition alive. She is hoping her children Scott, 22; and twins Courtney and Cassandra, 16, help continue the lefse tradition into the future. They all love to eat it, and their favorite filling is butter and cinnamon-sugar. “It’s sad more people are not taking the time to carry on those traditions,” Birr said. “My biological mother (Sharron) is German, but she also loves lefse and
from front page her twin daughters, 16-year-old Cassandra, make the delicious Norwegian soft potato flatbread. Tracey stirs up the mix (flour, cream, butter, sugar, pinch of salt), and Cassandra – usually – fries them on the griddle. Lefse (pronounced leff-suh) resembles a flour tortilla, but its base is russet potatoes, and it sports the unmistakable medium-brown “scorch” marks on it from the hot griddle. Lefse without those brown marks is
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contributed photo
Folded in fourths to make a triangle shape, lefse is soft Norwegian potato flatbread, similar to flour tortillas. has even helped me make it.” Birr does not consider her lefse selling as a business, although she does have personal cards that read “Homemade Lefse by Tracey Birr.” People call her often to place orders. Birr sometimes wonders if she will ever grow tired of making so much lefse, but she dreads the day may come when she has to start saying “no.” “I enjoy doing it because I love to make it for people who want to relive their childhood,” she said. “Sometimes just the sight of it will remind people of old times, and they say to me things like, ‘Oh, I remember when my grandma used to make that’ or ‘I haven’t had lefse in at least 20 years so I can’t wait to eat it again.’ It’s a good feeling to make people happy.” For those who would like to meet Birr and sample her lefse, she will be at the St. Joseph Farmers’ Market through the winter season from 3-6 p.m. at Resurrection Lutheran Church. The dates are Dec. 14 (which will be a Christmas-holiday market complete with music and festive surprises), Jan. 11 and 25, Feb. 8 and 22, March 8 and 22 and April 5 and 19.
~ In Memory ~ Dr. Styles, Cotton and Milbert’s dental office will be closed on Friday, Dec. 14 in observance of Mary Peterson who passed away Dec. 10, 2012. Mary was Dr. Styles dental assistant for 36 years. She leaves behind her husband Jeff and children Dan and Jessica.
Expires: January 3, 2013
Mary was a valued member of our staff and will be greatly missed.
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Dec. 14, 2012
CSB, Sisters double annual donation to city The College of St. Benedict and the Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict have donated to the city of St. Joseph for many years. This year, they doubled their annual voluntary financial contribution that is given in recognition of the value placed on the relationship between the two.
tery have contributed $150,000 to the City of St. Joseph, as noted when Palmer read from a letter addressed to St. Joseph Mayor Rick Schultz. Only six other private colleges in Minnesota make annual voluntary contributions to local governments.
This nearly 18-foot Christmas tree was donated by St. Joseph dentist, Joseph Styles. It stands at the corner of Minnesota Street and College Avenue.
Snowfall from front page versity’s meteorological service. The snowfall beat the record of Dec. 9, 1961, which amounted to only 5.1 inches, according to SCSU meteorologist Bob Weisman. The last time there was more snow on one calendar day in the area was on March 1, 1965, when 14.5 inches of snow fell and again that same month on March 17, with 13 inches of snow. So far this winter, St. Cloud has received 14.8 inches of snow, which is at this date 2.8 inches above average and more than half of the 27.4 inches of snow that fell last winter, which was virtually snowless until toward the end of the season. Temperatures were in the single digits, teens and 20s most of the week. They are expected to remain brisk for the foreseeable future, according to all weather reports. No additional major snowfalls are yet on the horizon for St. Joseph and the surrounding area.
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Sue Palmer, vice president of finance and administration for the College of St. Benedict, told city council members Dec. 6 the college and the sisters review their contribution annually and decided to increase it from $15,000 to $30,000. During the last decade, CSB and the monas-
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photos by Cori Hilsgen
St. Joseph residents woke up Monday morning (Dec. 10) to a record snowfall of more than 11 inches. Plunging temperatures and increased winds suspended travel throughout most of Sunday.
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Tree
Santa, refreshments and fellowship. Wahlstrom said families took pictures with Santa and organizers supplied grab bags of from front page goodies for children. Volunteers Benedict’s Monastery and the and staff members from Sentry St. Joseph Church Choir. Bank in St. Joseph organized the “We had a really nice turn- children’s festivities at LaPlayout for the caroling,” said Ellen ette. Wahlstrom, one of the event Kristen Mattick, choir dicoordinators. “People joined in rector at Kennedy Community (the singing). It went very well.” School, was proud of her stuAfter the tree was lit and dents. They’ve sung carols at the singing was done, families the event the last three years. gathered at LaPlayette Bar and “It was a huge success,” MatRestaurant for more fun with tick said of the event.
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
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Our View Be prepared this winter Nothing says winter like a storm that drops 11 inches of snow within one day. Yes, it’s pretty to look at as its falling and coating the trees and sidewalks. It’s not too fun to drive in. With the recent surprise visit by snow, it’s a good time to update winter survival kits and review the rules of winter. The 2010-11 winter season was a busy one for the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Statewide, MnDOT used 267,860 tons of salt, 65,220 tons of sand and nearly 2.55 million gallons of salt brine. In 2009-10, MnDOT used 180,252 tons of salt, 41,833 tons of sand and more than 1.8 million gallons of salt brine. MnDOT spent $81.1 million for snow and ice removal – the highest of any season on record, according to the transportation agency. Whether a native or a transplant, winter is a brutal season in Minnesota. Here’s what residents should keep in their survival kits to successfully navigate the state’s most challenging weather period of the year. It’s important to keep the essentials like a shovel, jumper cables, tow and tire chains, a bag of salt and a tool kit in your vehicle. But more is needed. Weather.com suggests survival kits include a flashlight, compass, a first-aid kit, a reflective triangle and brightly-colored cloth, wooden stick matches in a waterproof container and non-perishable high-energy food. When on the road and before starting your journey, MnDOT advises motorists to remember the following: • Clear snow from your vehicle windshield, hood and roof. Drivers might be in a hurry but failure to do so can hinder visibility. • Be patient as snowplows work to improve road conditions. The plows are there to help not only you but other drivers. Let them do their job. • Slow down as snowplows typically move at slower speeds. Don’t try to pass them. The results can be dangerous. • Stay at least five car lengths behind the plow, far from the snow cloud. • Stay alert. Plows turn or exit frequently and often with little warning. • Call 511 or visit 511mn.org to check road conditions before you leave. The best way to battle winter is to be prepared. Safe traveling!
Fairness and ethics
Newsleader staff members have the responsibility to report news fairly and accurately and are accountable to the public. Readers who feel we’ve fallen short of these standards are urged to call the Newsleader office at 363-7741. If matters cannot be resolved locally, readers are encouraged to take complaints to the Minnesota News Council, an independent agency designed to improve relationships between the public and the media and resolve conflicts. The council office may be reached at 612-341-9357.
Friday, Dec. 14, 2012
Opinion Hooray! Winter makes a comeback When I woke up last Sunday, the room was filled with angelic white light – that kind of light that can mean only one thing: new-fallen snow. I got up and looked out the windows. Snow! Still softly falling, it had blanketed everything. There were drifts in the yard and wind-molded snow sculptures on the Christmas displays. The branches of the pine trees were drooping, festooned with heavy bunches of snow. From the kitchen window, I saw two happy neighbor kids, like little Eskimos, busily building a big igloo snow fort. The world had turned, overnight, into a Christmas card. It was dazzling. My three cats – Sheba, Tiny and Lucy – were dazzled, too. They sat on the window sills and stared with that quiet, wide-eyed intensity, as only cats can. Daisy the dog suddenly began to bark. Someone must be at the door. Just then I heard scraping sounds. I looked out the living room windows. Sure enough, there they were. The early-morning elves were in high gear, snow-blowing and shoveling just about everybody’s car ports, including mine. The night before, those “elves” – Kermit and Richard – had been gloomy prophets of wintry doom. In tones of dread, they’d warned the rest of us we’d better batten down the hatches because what’s coming is going to be very, very serious. We are about to be “buried” by snow and more snow. “You better watch out!” said Kermit, rapidly wagging his warning finger. “This one’s
Dennis Dalman Editor going to be bad.” “No!” I exclaimed with feigned fright. “Really?” “REALLY bad!” he said. Inside, I was chuckling with glee. The more dire Kermit’s winter warnings become, the happier he gets. You can see, just beneath his doomy exterior, the little kid inside, rubbing his hands together, hoping for a Monster Blizzard, knowing he can stay home from school and play all day happily in his snow pants – building snow forts, throwing snowballs, shoveling sidewalks. Richard, who is even older than Kermit, is a pea in the same pod. He turns into a 10-year-old kid with a shovel. From the warmth of my living room, I like to poke my head out the front door and yell, “Would you two please slow down?! You shouldn’t be doing that. You’re too OLD!” Then they pause for a second, lean on their shovels and shout from their frostpinched faces, “Look who’s talkin’!” Alas, along with blizzards comes football. After shoveling, the elves scurried to the neighbor’s house. There, they began
screaming at players on the TV screen who were fighting over an odd-shaped ball. Richard’s wife, Marty, to escape the football insanity, fled toward my house, but she got stuck in a snow bank, waddling and wobbling, falling again and again, until finally she freed herself. I opened my front door and there stood what looked like a panting, snow-covered Nanook of the North. “Oh, I hope nobody saw me,” she said, a wintry blush crossing her face. After last year’s snowless winter, we Minnesota kids (little and big) are eager for a real winter. I can just hear those unused snowmobiles revving up. I can just imagine some big “kids” even hoping their vehicles won’t start so they can finally use the jumper cables they bought last year. I shiver to think of teenagers daring to drive somewhere, anywhere, just because there’s a blizzard going on. Parents, having been-there-done-that, know all too well the futility of their warnings: “You kids do NOT drive anywhere. Stay put!” Ah yes, young and old, foolish and wise, let’s rejoice. Hooray! Here we are together again in the middle of a good, old-fashioned Minnesota blizzard. After last year, we almost forgot what we missed. We are, however, fickle Minnesotans one and all, which means on the day after Christmas, if not sooner, we’ll all be complaining about the vicious winter weather. But in the meantime, let’s welcome the return of winter. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
Letter to editor
Foundation president asks all to foster Culture of Caring Steve Joul, president Central Minnesota Community Foundation Central Minnesota was recently rocked by some terrible tragedies in Cold Spring and Little Falls. These tragedies remind us families in our communities face difficult challenges that are multifaceted and impact us all. Amidst these challenging times, it may be difficult to see the silver lining this holiday season. Glimmers of hope I believe, though, exist in the outpouring of generosity amidst these tragedies. Whether it’s a gathering of friends and families or the financial support given to help those affected, all serve to show how we as a community care for one another. I believe caring for one another is one of the key values of the greater central Minnesota community. At the Community Foundation during this holiday season, there are a variety of ways you can engage in that culture of
caring. The Norman C. Skalicky Foundation is once again providing a $50,000 match to help fill area food shelves. Donors this year are encouraged to make their donations by Dec. 31 directly to Catholic Charities, the St. Cloud Salvation Army or the St. Joseph Community Food Shelf to the attention of “Food Shelf Charity Challenge.” Mailing addresses, websites and more info about the challenge are available at www.communitygiving.org. Another opportunity to give back is by supporting the Foundation’s annual Campaign for Philanthropy. Each year we ask those closest to the Foundation to provide the much-needed support that helps the Foundation carry out its work of growing philanthropic resources for the greater community. We would also like to invite you to a celebration of the season. On Thursday, Dec. 20, we are hosting the Foundation’s Annual Holiday Social from 5-8 p.m. at the Holiday Inn
and Suites in St. Cloud. This year we will also have a special recognition of the Foundation’s Director of Finance and Investments Connie Viere, who will be retiring Dec. 31 after 11 years of service. If you can join us, please RSVP to Jeni at 320-257-9726 or jpederson@ communitygiving.org. As we enter this holiday season with all the fanfare and excitement the season brings, we ask you all to remember the families in central Minnesota who may not be experiencing the same festive atmosphere this year. We also want to thank you for your continued generosity in caring for the greater central Minnesota community. You make central Minnesota a great place to call home. P.S: As a reminder for individuals looking to distribute year-end grants through their funds, we would appreciate those requests being submitted by Monday, Dec. 17 to allow time for those grants to meet the year-end deadline.
From the Bench:
Probable cause requires specific reasons
I have often been asked, both when I was a practicing attorney and since being appointed to the bench, what facts justify an officer pulling over a motorist in Minnesota. There are many cases that have addressed this issue, and as you would expect, those cases are very fact-specific. In general, the law in Minnesota is an officer must have “reasonable, articulable suspicion of criminal activity based on a totality of the circumstances.” That means the officer must identify a specific reason or circumstance that justifies the stop. The stop cannot be based on mere speculation, curiosity or a hunch. In Minnesota, an officer may stop a vehicle for virtually any violation of traffic or driving laws, even “minor” offenses, which include driving conduct such as speeding, failing to stop for a stop sign or semaphore, failing to signal a lane change, operating a vehicle at night without the proper lighting, turning without a proper signal or an improper lane change. Motor-vehicle equipment violations can also be a legitimate reason for police to conduct a traffic stop. A broken taillight, excessive window tinting, expired license-plate tabs, a license plate with any characters of the plate covered by any material such as snow or dirt or a cracked windshield (whether or not the crack actually obstructs the driver’s vision) all provide law enforcement with a valid
William Cashman Stearns County Judge reason to conduct a stop. Many people drive with air fresheners, dream catchers, handicap-parking permits or other objects hanging from the rear-view mirror. Minn. Stat. § 169.71 prohibits anything from being suspended between the driver and the windshield other than a sun visor and the rear-view mirror. There are two exceptions the statute allows – a safety-monitoring system or a global positioning system. Minnesota appellate courts have concluded that objects hanging from the rear-view mirror provide the police with a legitimate basis to stop a vehicle. If an officer has knowledge the registered owner of the vehicle does not have a valid driver’s license, the officer may conduct a traffic stop, as long as the officer does not have any information that the driver is someone other than the owner. For that reason, if a female driver is pulled over, but the registered owner with the invalid license was male, that stop, without any other facts to support the stop, would be subject to challenge in court. If an officer witnesses evasive conduct by
a driver, that too may provide a valid basis to conduct a traffic stop. In determining whether the driver’s actions are deemed to be evasive conduct, a judge will determine if the officer can sufficiently describe why he or she believed that particular driver was attempting to evade the officer in light of all circumstances. The Minnesota Supreme Court has determined the use of temporary roadblocks to stop vehicles with the hope of catching impaired drivers violates the Minnesota Constitution. Whether a stop can be justified by information provided to the police as a result of a citizen complaint is dependent upon various factors, such as what information did the citizen report that establishes the vehicle’s driver is committing a crime, what is the basis of the citizen’s knowledge and whether the citizen identifies themself. With the holiday season quickly approaching, law enforcement will likely increase patrol officers to crack down on drunk drivers. If you plan to drink alcohol this holiday season, please make arrangements for a sober driver. Avoiding a possible DUI and injury to yourself and others by not drinking and driving is much preferable to having to challenge the validity of a traffic stop after the fact. I wish a happy and safe holiday season to all. William Cashman is a district-court judge who presides over cases in Stearns County.
Friday, Dec. 14, 2012 Friday, Dec. 14 Weight-loss surgery informational seminar, 2 p.m., CentraCare Clinic-River Campus, St. Cloud. Registration required. (320) 240-2828. St. Joseph Farmers’ Market, 3-6 p.m., Resurrection Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall, 610 North County Road 2, St. Joseph. www.stjosephfarmersmarket.com Sunday, Dec. 16 Living Nativity, 5-7:30 p.m., Messiah Lutheran Church, 320 4th Ave. N., Sartell. Monday, Dec. 17 Blood drive, noon-6 p.m., St. Cloud Blood Donation Center, 1301 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud. 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org. St. Joseph Park Board meeting will address public input on
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Community Calendar
the proposed improvements to Cloverdale Park, 6:30-8 p.m., St. Joseph City Hall, 25 College Ave. N. John Anderson, 363-7983 or email at johnand1951@charter. net. St. Joseph Rod and Gun Club meeting, 7 p.m., American Legion in St. Joseph.
Tuesday, Dec. 18 “Indians and CowboysRethinking the History of the American West,” for seniors 55+, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud. Community input sessions to select a new superintendent, 10 a.m., Whitney Senior Center, St. Cloud, and 7 p.m., Apollo High School Resource Center, St. Cloud. www.isd742.org click on superintendent search at bottom of webpage. Feedback deadline
is Jan. 4. Blood drive, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., St. Cloud Blood Donation Center, 1301 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud. 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org. Blood drive, noon-6 p.m., Moose Lodge, 1300 Third St. N., Waite Park.1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org. Wednesday, Dec. 19 Harpist Amy Filipczak will play the Celtic harp, 5 to 6 p.m., Al Ringsmuth Public Library, 235 5th Ave. N., Waite Park. 320-2539359. Thursday, Dec. 20 Coffee and Conversation, a senior discussion group, 9 a.m., Country Manor, Sartell. “A Man and a Woman,” foreign film, for seniors 55+, 9:3011:30 a.m., Whitney Senior Cen-
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The Newsleaders seeks freelance writers and photographers to cover town-specific events/meetings/personalities. Freelancers are paid per story/photo. If interested, please email a resume and a few writing/photo samples to janellev@thenewsleaders. com. tfn
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ter, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud. Blood drive, noon-6 p.m., St. Cloud Blood Donation Center, 1301 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud. 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org. Holiday Music Sing-along, 1 p.m., Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud. Bring a plate of cookies to share. Hot chocolate and coffee will be provided. Register at 255-7245. St. Joseph City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall. 363-7201. Friday, Dec. 21 Blood drive, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., St. Cloud Blood Donation Center, 1301 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud. 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org. Funeral pre-planning, 10 a.m. Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud.
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BEAUTY
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Mary Kay Cosmetics Joyce Barnes St. Joseph 320-251-8989
Michael F. Contardo D.D.S. 26 2nd Ave. NW St. Joseph 320-363-4468
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CHURCHES
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Gateway Church
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106 2nd Ave. NW St. Joseph (next to the Post Office) 320-282-2262
EYECARE
Worship: 10 a.m. Sunday, 7 p.m. Wednesday, 6 p.m. Saturday Christmas Eve Candelight Service 5-6 p.m.
Resurrection Lutheran, ELCA Sunday Worship 8:30 & 11 a.m. WoW! (Worship on Wednesday) 6:30 p.m.
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610 N. CR 2 St. Joseph 320-363-4232 www.rlcstjo.org St. Joseph Catholic Church Masses: Tuesday-Friday 8 a.m. Saturday 5 p.m. Sunday 8 and 10 a.m.
320-363-7505 St. Joseph www.churchstjoseph.org
Russell Eyecare & Associates 15 E. Minnesota St., Ste. 107 St. Joseph 320-433-4326
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St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
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Friday, Dec. 14, 2012
Poet chronicles lives of St. Ben nuns in 100-word stories smile. “It was nice to shift the focus . . . I wanted to get deeper and behind the surface of that way of life.” The Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict is the largest women’s Benedictine monastery in the nation. They arrived in 1857 to minister to German immigrants, and in time they staffed more than 80 schools, founded the College of St. Benedict, hospitals and other ministries. At their peak in the 195os, they had 1,278 members and were the largest women’s Benedictine community in the world, Sink wrote. Sink’s connection with the sisters grew over time. She actually lives on the monastery’s former hog farm. She moved there four years ago when she got married and started working for them as their communications director. It was during that photos by TaLeiza Calloway time she learned more about Above: Poet Susan Sink reads from her latest book “Habits,” Nov. 28 at the Minnesota Street them. Having been raised CathMarket. The collection of 100-word stories offers an inside look into the lives of the Sisters of olic since she was 12, this was the Order of St. Benedict from the 1920s to the 1990s. Inset: “Habits,” a collection of 100-word new territory for her. “I gained a lot of their trust stories, chronicles the lives of Benedictine Sisters in Minnesota. (while working for them),” she by TaLeiza Calloway The poet used their oral his- hopes of greater inclusion of said. “They told me a lot of news@thenewsleaders.com tories to share unknown stories women within the church, the stories. I really wanted to unabout the lives of the nuns from book is an intimate introduction derstand (them). They just have Susan Sink wanted to write a the 1920s to the 1990s in her lat- to their sisterhood. a sense of being so interwoven book about the Sisters of the Or- est book, “Habits.” The book is Sink is an oblate of St. John’s with the area . . . They’re inder of St. Benedict that revealed a collection of 100-word stories, Abbey. An oblate is a layperson terwoven in the culture of the their uniqueness and a book with some that read like poems. attached to a monastery, she ex- community.” that would serve as a tribute to From tales of how sisters plained. The 48-year-old moved Sink has a master’s degree their service. She did it in just get their names to stories on to Minnesota from Chicago. Dig- from Sarah Lawrence College 100 words, 44 times. running a large dairy farm and ging through the sisters’ back- in New York. As a college stuground and composing the book dent, she discovered poetry and was a six-month project and one never looked back. Composshe says got her excited about ing stories with just 100-words Freelancers sought poetry again. wasn’t as hard as she thought. “Most of my poetry was It surprised her how much of a The Newsleaders seeks freelance writers and about my life,” she said with a story she could tell with so few photographers to cover town-specific events/
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words. She hopes these 100-word stories will introduce readers to the personality and rich history of the sisters. “I hope they (readers) have a less stereotypical image of nuns,” she said. “For St. Joseph, I hope they really recognize themselves and their experience. It’s kind of a remembrance. It makes the past more vivid.” The response to the book has been positive. Many said they learned something new. “I really wanted it to be a tribute,” she said. Sink is also the author of “The Way of All the Earth,” a book of poems and three volumes of “Art of The Saint John’s Bible.” “Habits” is available for $12 from http://lulu.com, The Whitby Gift Shop and Gallery in St. Joseph, the CSB/SJU Bookstore and Sink’s website, http:// susansink.wordpress.com. Here’s one of the 44 stories from the book. Mary I asked for ‘Conrad’ or ‘Jean.’ Sister Lucretia said to me, “You’re getting a pretty name, much nicer than your sister’s.” (She got Sister Omer.) I almost fell over when the prioress pronounced the name Lawrence. I was ashamed to tell my parents about it. My mother always said, “Lauren, like Laura.” I went to the novice director and told her I didn’t like it. She said, “Well, just put ‘Mary’ in front of it.” As a nurse it was easy for the doctors to call for Sister Lawrence, and I got so used to it I never changed back.